Oxygen dispensing apparatus



Aug. 7, 1962 R. cARLlNG 3,048,190

` OXYGEN DIsPENsING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24, 1959 INVENTOR. HMH/m0 CARL/Nc;

ATTORNEY United States Patent O Bail-18,19@ OXYGEN DISPENSNG APPARATUS Richard Carling, Richmond, Calif. (20 E. 74th St., New York, NX.) Filed Aug. 2d, 1959, Ser. No. 335,607 3 Claims. (Cl. 137-624.111)

The invention relates to an apparatus for mixing oxygen gas with atmospheric air for controllably increasing the oxygen content of the air.

As is well known, an increase in the oxygen content of atmospheric air is desirable in certain circumstances. For example, a person needing additional oxygen to overcome fatigue or to meet general health or emergency requirements may desirably be provided with an oxygenenriched air, even as a life-saving means. Accordingly, it lis a general object of the invention to provide a particularly simple and eiiicient and safely usable apparatus of the character described which is particularly adapted for non-professional use at home or elsewhere.

Another object is to provide an oxygen-supplying apparatus which is arranged for its direct and ready control by a person using the enriched air.

A further object is to provide a means whereby enriching oxygen may be applied in a more-or-less confined body of air at an adjustably controlled rate depending on the requirements for a breathing use of the enriched air.

Yet another object is to provide an oxygen dispensing apparatus which is particularly adapted for its direct control and use by persons engaged in such activities as writing or reading or operating a vehicle.

An added object is to provide a manually settable oxygen-dispensing apparatus which may effect the delivery of oxygen for an adjusted predetermined and automatically limited time.

A still further object is to provide the apparatus with an oxygen-air mixer at the point of use of the reinforced air to thereby assure an even distribution of delivered oxygen in the reinforced air.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent from a consideration of the following description of a typical embodiment thereof, and in the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic showing of the oxygendelivering means of the present apparatus in association with a supply flask or bottle.

FIGURE 2 is an axially upright section taken through a flow-control valve indicated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken at the line 3--3 in FIGURE 2, and shows certain structural features of the flow valve, together with an associated electro-magnetic timing device and the control circuit thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of the setting assembly at a control panel for the apparatus.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section of an air-oxygen mixing head shown in the apparatus combination of FIG- URE `1.

As diagrammatically shown in FIGURE l, the oxygendispensing apparatus of my invention essentially comprises a flask or bottle 1 containing compressed oxygen and mounting a usual type of discharge-pressure regulator 1 which is arranged to deliver the oxygen from the bottle through a discharge tube 2 at a constant predetermined pressure to a normally closed liow valve 3 which is arranged for its manual setting to open condition against spring resistance and for its adjusted and automaticallytimed electro-magnetic release by a timer 4 for its closing by spring action. A tube 5 discharges the oxygen released from the valve 3 to and through a discharge head 6 which mixes the received oxygen with the atmospheric air in any more-or-less confined space in which oxygen is 3,048,190 Patented Aug. 7, 1962 to be added for a breathing use of the oxygen-enriched air. A normally closed discharge valve 7 is provided in a branch of the connection between the bottle 1 and the regulator 1', whereby the bottle maybe emptied of oxygen in case of an adjacent lire or other emergency.

By particular reference to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be noted that the control valve 3 in the gas discharge line 2 5 from the container 1 to the mixing head 6 comprises a special structural combination in which a rotary valve plug 8 is normally operative to close a `how-passage 9 through the valve body 10. The valve plug 8 is constantly urged to its passage-closing disposal by a liat spiral torsion spring 11 disposed in a housing provided in part by a member 12 mounted on the plug stem 8 carrying a handle S, with the member 12 including a disc portion 12 having a peripheral axial flange portion 12 encircling the spring 11 which has its outer end Xed to said flange. The inner spring end is anchored to a point on the outer side of an annular ange 10" provided by a plate member i111 of the valve body 10 which is c0- operative with the member 12 to complete the spring housing. The member 12 provides radial ratchet teeth 13 and 14 extending from its peripheral edge flange 12 and cooperative with pawls 17 and 1S llixedly carried by pawlcarrying members 15 and 16 mounted on the valve tbody 1b, said pawls being variously cooperative as detents with respect to said valve plug teeth 13 and 14.

As vindicated in FIGURE 3, the pawls 17 and 18 are provided at laterally lapped ends of the members 15 and 16 which comprise levers intermediately pivoted to the valve body 1) at tixed pivot pins 15' and 16' extending intermediately through the levers and mutually parallel to each other and to the axis of the valve plug y8. The mutually opposite ends of the levers 15 and 16 respectively carry armatures 19 and 20 of temporarily magnetizable material which are disposed opposite the ends of temporarily magentizable cores of like solenoids 21 and 22 xedly mounted on the valve body, and are arranged for their energizing to rock the levers 15 and 16 to inoperatively dispose their pawls with respect to the teeth 13 and 14 when the solenoids are energized. Torsion springs 23 and 24 are constantly cooperative between the levers 15 and 16 and their respective pivot pins 15' and 16 to hold the armatures 19 and 20 fixedly spaced from the cores of the different solenoids 21 and 22 while the pawls are held in tooth-engaging position; FIGURE 3 Vshows the relations when both solenoids are deenergized,

the tooth 1lithen being retained between the pawls l17 and '18 by the actions of the positioning springs 23 and 24, whereby to normally prevent an appreciable turning of the valve plug for opening the passage 9.

Having the pawls 17 and 18 disposed, as shown in FIG- URE 3, in spaced opposed relation in the path of possible movement of the tooth .14, a valve-opening turning of the valve plug 8 in either direction against the resistance of the valve spring 11 will 4be stopped by the engagement of the tooth between the pawls 17 and 18, unless the inoperative disposal of one of said pawls is effected by energizing the solenoid 21 or 22 cooperatively associated with it. As particularly indicated, a counter-clockwise rotation of the member 12 is required to engage the tooth 13 behind the pawl 1S of the member 16, and such a movement of the member 12 may only be effected after a disposal of the pawl 17 out of the path of movement of the tooth 141 by energizing the solenoid 21, whereby the permitted turning of the valve plug 8 by a manual operation of its handle 8" may result in the engagement of the tooth 13 behind the pawl 18 of the spring-pressed pawlcarrying member '16 to then retain the valve plug in passage-opening position against the constant urge of the spring 11 to return it to its passage-closing position.

Means are preferably provided for limiting the rotation of the valve plugs` toakiixed ninety-degreey angle between its passage-opening andpassage-closing posispaanse f feature comprises an importa-ntsafety. feature of the aptions. As particularly shown, stop members 26 and 27 -f respectively provided on thev stem-carried member i2 and on the Valve body 10, are arranged for their mutualL engagementtwhen the valve isclosed, with one of said members preferably being wholly or in `,part of resilient` yielding material for absorbing the shock'of stopping the valve-closing movement of thefplug produced by .the Y spring -11. f When the Valve plug 17 is 'rotated to open` the ow passage 9, the tooth 14 is arranged to` engage a fixed body-mounted stop 28 whenthe plug has .been

rotated to catchcthe tooth 13. behind thepawl lginthisy manner, the valve plug 8 is `rotatablesolely` between the f limiting positions imposed `by utilizing the` stops 27 and 28 to limit the rotary movements of the p1ug,which l arrangement is` understood to represent other devices which are usable for the same purpose.

It will now be notedlthat thepawl-controlling solernoids 21 and 22 are arranged to alternatively derive electric energy from a suitable source, as the secondary of a transformer 29, when a doublepole power supply" switch 29' and individually operative switching devices 'y of the timer 4 which are included in parallel'branch cir cuits for the diterent solenoids, are closed; As is shown in FlGURE 3, the timer 4 provides a switch arm 30 valve o ent oxygenfdispensingapparatus",is noty operating? this paratu's; Wh'ile nojstructure isshown for the purpose, f the means for `operatingthe spindleSLin the described manner may comprise a atspiral springjwhich may be woundup by turning the knob y37 (andy indexhand 35) "in aclockwisedirectiom andthen utilizing the unwinding i of the released spring to function through ay usual escape` f f menftfnot shown) 1 to rotate the spindlein a counterclockwise .directionoat a relatively `slow,rate until the terminal contactdilof the controlled switcharm Stien gages the contactZ andmoves slightly therebeyond to aposition in the gap betweenithecontacts 32 and 33.

The oxygen-providing tube. Zltromnthe flask ll tothe i, panelmounted valve 35 is of av suitable structurefand length or'its' installation betweenxthejtanlcand` valve.k Also, the .oxygen-delivering tube .5 extending from the slidably engaged through the panel 34 at a tubular y panel-mounted guide `member 38 to facilitate the disa posal andyuse .of the.mixing-and-delivery head 6 at a desired ypoint `which, is fixed., or moving with referencey y to the panel.. lnpractice, at least `the tube 5 of the oxygen-delivery lineg2-5 will have a suitable pliable formretaining structurer for its ready yandchangeaiiile bending i to desired shape at appropriatel pointstherealong for mounted on aspindle 3i which is arranged' for rotation.

at a uniform and relatively slow rate hy a suitable rmeans (not shown) for effecting, a timed closing of the ycir`r cuit of the solenoid 21 when a terminal contact portiony 30 of the arm 30, which is `included in said circuit, engages a xed contact 32 in the branch circuit of the solenoid 22. An arcuate conductor 33 of the timer=4 is provided in the line of movement of the contact 30 of the switch arm 30 for its engagement by said contact,

and the iixed switch contact32 is disposedin the gap'y between the endsy of the conductor 33, whereby the circuit-closing engagement of the arm 3d' with the `conductor 33 will close the circuit of the solenoidZ'i for inoperatively disposing the pawl 1'7 Vwith respectfrtothe a mouthpiece for a direct delivery of reinforced air.

facilitating a secured positioning and support ofl the head 6 ator. outwardly of the memberjSS on the panel.

Understandingthat `the present i apparatus may. provide oxygen-reinforced air'atand for an individual, it will `be obvious thatthe discharge outlet from a ypresent head o may have orassume the form of a face mask or therefrom to `a person who' may havethe mixing head mounted on the clothing or body by a,y suitable attaching ,y means (notshown), such as a hook or clip or the like.

ratchet teeth of the member 12 only when. the hand is out of engagement with the contact 32 fand engages the conductor 33:` f f f The timer 4 is mounted on and behind a convenient-r ly located and mountedfinstrumentpanel 34 and liasianrawv K indicator hand 3S extending from the spindle 31 of its switch arm 30 oppositelther panel iront., The pointA of the index hand 35 is yarranged for movement along ay ynumbered scalef36kfprovided on the panel front and calibrated for diierent time periods from a zeroipoint cor responding to the contact 32j, andthe yhand `35is manually turnable to a selected point of saidfsca'le by the use of a turn-knob 37 fixed to the spindle 31 outwardly of the hand 35 for rpredetermining ythe time required fory afclosingy of the switch Sil-32 to effect the release of ff the teeth 13. As particularly illustrated, rthe operating handle for the switch 29 and the setting handle .84 of the valve 3 are also provided' at the front of the panel. 34 which mounts the switch'2g9' andthe valve' at its.

back.

On `the other hand, the vpresent head 6 might be disposed to, deliver the reinforced ,air in a larger or smaller closed space such as a therapy tent or ay room. Also apresent head '6 maybe carried about by a person moving about 'by mountingtliey headon the personsr clothing or person by a suitable Vattaching meanstnot shown) n for the purpose; i f y As disclosed in, FIGURE ,5, the -mixinganddelivery headwzd essentially `comprisesja;.1m1lti-jet` nozzle 41 jy threadedlyr andv terminally` carried by. atubular` rigid memberzf'which, is. suitably :tixed to the discharge end of the iiexible tube 5 `as a terminal continuation thereof,v

'with said'nozzle arranged to discharge a circular line of jets of *the undiluted oxygen forwardly intoa mixing passage lf3` provided ina laterally closed .tubular bellshaped-member Ki-tinto which air nfrom ythe space atthe 4 immediate rear oi; the head is drawn by the jet action at such a rate that the oxygen delivered within. the head .is'rsuitably mixed with air therein to' providethe desired oxygen-reinforced p air.` The present` zr member 44 is threadedly mounted at its rear` enden the periphery of a `fiat annular discnmember 45 ywhich isrotatively ady justable with the member 44 on and about the member 'so Understanding that a tooth-releasing displacement of'.

the pawl 18- effected-by a closing of the circuit of the f solenoid y22 is required only for a period long enough to release the tooth-13 ,to thereafter permit the closing f of the valve by the action of the spring lll, the means rotating the spindle 31 carrying the switch arm Stiand index hand 35 is. preferably arranged 'to carry the arm ft2, and 4is provided with a pluralityof air inlet openings do transversely therethroughandfthe member `44r extends appreciably `beyond#thenozzle 41 for the extension' of thepassage 43well beyond 1the nozzle.. f

3i) beyond the contact 32 Without engaging the arcuate f' y contact 33' before the'turning ofthe arm ceases, where-y by the solenoid 22 is energized fora minimum time y which is just suiiicientffor insuring a freeing of the valve` plug for effecting a closing of the valve. `Since the solef noid 2l is energized only while the` arm 30 engagesy the` arcuate contact 33,\it will r'be understood that neitherr ofthe solenoids 21 and 22 is energized,k while the pres- It will new be particularly notedthatthe member` 4 is arranged for' a jet-induced flow of`atmospheric air intok itsrear end through the air inlet openings 46 ataregulatable rate by reason of its rotaryfadjustability withre-A spect to corresponding `transverse air-inlet openings 47 provided' inr ak iiangey 48, extending xedly from the lis, preferably oi' a ilexible structure and may bey aotsneo be provided as an integral intermediate portion of the member 42. Understanding that air-intake ports of Variable effective cross-sectional area may be provided by relatively rotating the ported members 45 and 48, the present arrangement essentially provides for a retainedly swiveled engagement of the member 45 with the member 42 while the member 45 is held against the opposed face of the member 43.

As particularly indicated, the inner end of the threadedly-mounted nozzle 41 is arranged to axially engage a thrust ring 51 between it and the opposed inner side face portion of the member 45, whereby the head 6 is swiveled upon the member 42; the ring S1 may comprise an axirally operative transversely-rippled spring for frictionally retaining the head 6 in rotatively adjusted relation to the flange 48, or a fiat ring 51 may be clamped against the inner edge portion of the flange 48 by the screwing-up of the nozzle on the member 42 to positively fix the members 42 and 48 in rotatively adjusted relation. Eessentially, the member 42 `and ange 48 are cooperative as an adjustable air inlet valve in accordance with the adjusted degree of overlap of their respective openings 46 and 47', which openings are of like number and are uniformly spaced in coaxial circular lines of like circumference.

As particularly shown, the forward end of the member 44 externally and threadedly mounts a ring member 53 defining a circular discharge opening 54 at and across which a mesh screen 5S is mounted as a gas-mixing means thereat. For further assuring a complete mixing of the induced `air with oxygen, and/or another gas, discharging from the nozzle 41, the bore of the tubular member 44 preferably has inwardly-directed liow control vanes 56 so formed and related that they define `between them forward portions ofthe passage 43 having a similar spiral relation to the axis of the head., with the radial inner vane ends generally opposite and spaced slightly forwardly of the discharge end of the nozzle 41, whereby the oxygen stream through the member 44 is arranged to induce a forward spiraling air-flow through the passage of the member 44 in accordance with the effective air intake port provided through the air valve means at the rear inlet openings 46 and 47 and so assure a uniform reinforcement of the inspirated air with the oxygen delivered from the nozzle 41 by reason of the turbulence produced by the ow of the air and oxygen along the vanes to and through the `screen 55.

Having the adjusted dispensing head 6 of the present apparatus disposed to deliver enriched air where desired, a person setting this `apparatus would first close the switch 29, then turn the knob 37 for setting the timer index hand 35 at the desired timing position for oxygen delivery, and finally turn the freed valve plug t; by means of its setting `handle 8 to open-valve position and its retention therein by the engagement of the tooth behind the pawl 18. Upon the automatic timed release of the time-setting knob 37, the switch arm 30 will move along the arcuate conductor 33 at the rate determined by the arm-operating mechanism until it moves from contact with the conductor to cle-energize the solenoid 21 for restoring the p-awl 17 to its operative position. The continued movement of the arm 30 to engage the contact 32 will energize the solenoid 22 to noperatively dispose the pawl 18 for freeing the valve plug 8 for its springactuated closing, while lthe hand 35 stops beyond the contact 32 and before it again engages the arcuate conductor 33. In this manner, lan operative cycle of the present apparatus is started solely -by the two manual operations of setting the timing index and opening the valve, and is terminated by the purely automatic closing of the valve after the desired air-enriching charge of oxygen has been delivered through the appropriately set mixing head 6.

Referring generally to the specifically disclosed use of the present unitary apparatus for providing oxygen-reinforced air for breathing, it is particularly important to understand that the control features are designed to render the unit particularly safe for setting 4by the person who is to utilize the enriched air, both by reason of the preliminary valve and mixing-head adjustments which control the composition of the air provided for breathing, and the provision for automatically preventing an accidental or overlong supplying of the enriched air from the mixing and dispensing head 6. Although the present apparatus has been particularly designed for enriching atmospheric air with oxygen supplied from a container of compressed oxygen, it will be obvious that the enriching gas might include or wholly comprise thereapeutic ingredients for providing a desirable air mixture for breathing.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the present oxygen dispensing apparatus will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. While I have shown and described a structure and operative arrangement which I now consider to comprise a preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire to have it understood that the disclosure is primarily illustrative, and that such changes and develope ments may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the following claims.

Iclaini:

l. In a device for intermittently releasing charges of fluid from a source of fiuid under pressure; a valve, means biasing said valve to closed position, manual operating means -for moving said valve to open position, first biased latch means for normally preventing manual actuation of said valve from closed to open position, second biased latch means for locking the valve in open position, first unlocking means for said first latch means, second unlocking means for said second latch means, timer means of the type having actuator means manually settable from a position where the timer means is inoperative to a desired operative position where the timer means will operate for a desired predetermined time, circuit means coacting with the timer means and the first and second unlocking means in such a manner that when the timer actuator means is moved from inoperative position to a desired operative position said first unlocking means is operated to thereby free the valve to be manually actuated from closed to open position and when the timer means has operated `for said predeter- -mined time said second unlocking means will be operated to unlatch said valve from open position so that said valve biasing means will reclose the valve.

2. A device according to claim l wherein said latching means comprise pivoted pawl means coacting with teeth connected to the valve.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said unlocking means comprise electromagnets which coact with armatures carried by said pawl means, `said timer means comprises sliding contact switch means and said circuit means is an electrical circuit having a source of electric energy.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 15,044 Smith IFeb. 15, 1921 1,239,955 Phillips Sept. 1l, 1917 2,891,406 Stoner June 23, 1959 2,855,926 Koppelman Oct. 14, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 561,188 Canada Aug. 5, 1958 

